Your ideal weight depends on your height, gender, age, and body frame. For most adults, the healthy weight range follows the WHO BMI standard of 18.5 to 24.9. Here are some quick benchmarks:

• 5'4" woman: 108 to 145 lbs
• 5'10" man: 129 to 174 lbs
• 6'0" man: 140 to 184 lbs

After age 65, a slightly higher range of BMI 22 to 27 is generally considered appropriate since modest weight reserves offer protection during illness or recovery.

The most accurate way to find your personal target is to use an ideal weight calculator that applies four proven medical formulas: Hamwi, Devine, Robinson, and Miller. Averaging all four gives you a range that accounts for differences in body type rather than relying on just one method.

Ideal weight for women varies by height and body frame. Based on four clinical formulas and the WHO BMI standard, here are the healthy weight ranges for American women:

• 5'0"   =  95 to 127 lbs
• 5'2"   =  101 to 136 lbs
• 5'4"   =  108 to 145 lbs
• 5'6"   =  115 to 154 lbs
• 5'8"   =  122 to 164 lbs
• 5'10" =  129 to 174 lbs

Women with a small body frame typically fall toward the lower end of that range. Large-framed women naturally sit at the higher end. Both are completely healthy. A single number target is rarely accurate for everyone at the same height, which is exactly why this calculator gives you a range instead.

Ideal weight for men runs about 10 to 20 lbs higher than for women at the same height, mainly due to greater average bone density and muscle mass. Here are healthy weight ranges for men across common heights:

• 5'6"   =  118 to 154 lbs
• 5'8"   =  125 to 164 lbs
• 5'10" =  132 to 174 lbs
• 6'0"   =  140 to 184 lbs
• 6'2"   =  148 to 194 lbs

Men with an athletic or muscular build may sit at the top of their range or slightly above it while still being in excellent health. That is why the Miller formula, which produces the highest ideal weight estimates of the four, tends to fit active men best. The calculator averages all four formulas so your result reflects your actual build rather than a one-size-fits-all number.

This calculator is more accurate than most because it does not rely on a single formula. It runs your data through four separate medical formulas - Hamwi, Devine, Robinson, and Miller - and averages the results alongside the WHO BMI healthy range. Since no single formula works perfectly for every body type, combining all four gives you a more balanced and reliable estimate.

That said, all ideal weight tools produce estimates, not exact targets. Factors like muscle mass, bone density, and body fat percentage are not captured by height and gender alone. A competitive athlete may register above the standard range while carrying almost no body fat. Treat your result as a medically grounded starting point and use it in combination with how you feel, how you perform, and what your doctor recommends.

For adults in the USA, the CDC and WHO define a healthy BMI as anything between 18.5 and 24.9. Here is what each range means:

• Below 18.5 - Underweight. Possible nutritional deficiency risk.
• 18.5 to 24.9 - Normal healthy weight. Lowest risk for weight-related conditions.
• 25.0 to 29.9 - Overweight. Increased risk; lifestyle changes recommended.
• 30.0 and above - Obese. High risk; medical consultation advised.

In terms of actual weight, what counts as healthy depends entirely on your height. A 5'6" adult has a healthy weight range of 115 to 154 lbs. A 6'0" adult's healthy range is 140 to 184 lbs. BMI is a useful general guide, but it does not distinguish between muscle and fat, so always use it alongside the formula-based results from this calculator for a fuller, more accurate picture.